Research Library

In response to the specific challenges faced by culturally diverse families with family violence concerns and Children’s Services involvement, CCIS created the Cultural Brokerage Program team and the Culturally Responsive Accommodations for Family Violence program for male perpetrators of family violence. The program is a promising practice as it is: effective, efficient, sustainable, innovative, and different from existing programs. In response to the specific challenges faced by culturally diverse families with family violence concerns and Children’s Services involvement, CCIS created the Cultural Brokerage Program team and the Culturally Responsive Accommodations for Family Violence program for male perpetrators of family violence. The program is a promising practice as it is: effective, efficient, sustainable, innovative, and different from existing programs.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) is a non-profit organization with expertise in providing settlement and integration services to immigrants and refugees. The Family and Children’s Services (FCS) Division of CCIS works to facilitate the integration of newcomer families and children into the community, enhancing the provision of community services for newcomers, and promoting the healthy development of children using a holistic strengths-based approach. The Cultural Brokerage Program facilitated through the FCS Division provides direct supports, services and referrals to culturally diverse families involved with Alberta Children’s Services with the aim of ensuring children are safe and families are able to flourish in Canada. Since its inception, evaluation of the Cultural Brokerage Program has revealed that the most prevalent concern leading to Children’s Services involvement within client families is family violence. At the same time, research and experience have shown that culturally diverse families experience significant barriers to accessing the mainstream family violence support services that are available in Calgary. In response to the specific challenges faced by culturally diverse families with family violence concerns and Children’s Services involvement, CCIS created Family Violence (FV) Specialist roles within the Cultural Brokerage Program team and the innovative Apartment 1310 Program for perpetrators of family violence. The FV Specialists are a resource for the Cultural Brokerage Program team to access when families are facing issues related to family violence. In response to the gendered nature of family violence, one FV Specialist is female and the other is male. Together, they work with both victims and perpetrators of family violence to increase understanding around the impacts of family violence, responses to family violence, expectations around family violence in Canada, and available community resources and options for families. Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) is a non-profit organization with expertise in providing settlement and integration services to immigrants and refugees. The Family and Children’s Services (FCS) Division of CCIS works to facilitate the integration of newcomer families and children into the community, enhancing the provision of community services for newcomers, and promoting the healthy development of children using a holistic strengths-based approach. The Cultural Brokerage Program facilitated through the FCS Division provides direct supports, services and referrals to culturally diverse families involved with Alberta Children’s Services with the aim of ensuring children are safe and families are able to flourish in Canada. Since its inception, evaluation of the Cultural Brokerage Program has revealed that the most prevalent concern leading to Children’s Services involvement within client families is family violence. At the same time, research and experience have shown that culturally diverse families experience significant barriers to accessing the mainstream family violence support services that are available in Calgary. In response to the specific challenges faced by culturally diverse families with family violence concerns and Children’s Services involvement, CCIS created Family Violence (FV) Specialist roles within the Cultural Brokerage Program team and the innovative Apartment 1310 Program for perpetrators of family violence. The FV Specialists are a resource for the Cultural Brokerage Program team to access when families are facing issues related to family violence. In response to the gendered nature of family violence, one FV Specialist is female and the other is male. Together, they work with both victims and perpetrators of family violence to increase understanding around the impacts of family violence, responses to family violence, expectations around family violence in Canada, and available community resources and options for families.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Beginning in April, 2020, The Immigrant Education Society conducted an internal study on staff and student reactions to the transition to remote services delivery precipitated by the COVID19 Pandemic. This consists of a preliminary survey deployed by the Research and Program Development Department, and the compilation of independently developed surveys deployed in June by the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) department and the Human Resources department. The analysis of the raw survey data was conducted by the Research and Program Development department. This document encompasses results from the Human Resources and LINC surveys. Beginning in April, 2020, The Immigrant Education Society conducted an internal study on staff and student reactions to the transition to remote services delivery precipitated by the COVID19 Pandemic. This consists of a preliminary survey deployed by the Research and Program Development Department, and the compilation of independently developed surveys deployed in June by the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) department and the Human Resources department. The analysis of the raw survey data was conducted by the Research and Program Development department. This document encompasses results from the Human Resources and LINC surveys.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This report sheds light on the housing challenges, experiences, strengths and resiliency of newcomers in Edmonton, AB, Canada. Survey respondents were clients who accessed services from four immigrant and refugee serving agencies in the city with clients from 54 different countries speaking 58 different languages. It serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, service providers, and community members interested in understanding and addressing the housing needs of newcomers in the city. This report sheds light on the housing challenges, experiences, strengths and resiliency of newcomers in Edmonton, AB, Canada. Survey respondents were clients who accessed services from four immigrant and refugee serving agencies in the city with clients from 54 different countries speaking 58 different languages. It serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, service providers, and community members interested in understanding and addressing the housing needs of newcomers in the city.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The success of the out-of-school time collaborative program coordinated by REACH Edmonton in empowering immigrant and refugee children and youth was evaluated. The report provides a high-level summary of the program’s description and reach, highlighting the various programs offered by the 13 organizations in the collaborative. The report also includes an overview of the themes found across all programs from the summer youth feedback sessions. The report concludes with recommendations for future program development and expansion. Overall, the report demonstrates the positive impact of the Bridging Together collaborative in promoting the well-being and integration of immigrant and refugee children and youth in Edmonton. The success of the out-of-school time collaborative program coordinated by REACH Edmonton in empowering immigrant and refugee children and youth was evaluated. The report provides a high-level summary of the program’s description and reach, highlighting the various programs offered by the 13 organizations in the collaborative. The report also includes an overview of the themes found across all programs from the summer youth feedback sessions. The report concludes with recommendations for future program development and expansion. Overall, the report demonstrates the positive impact of the Bridging Together collaborative in promoting the well-being and integration of immigrant and refugee children and youth in Edmonton.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Sexual orientation and gender identity or expression (SOGIE) refugees face discriminatory and harsh experiences in the refugee claimant and hearing process in Canada. Additionally, SOGIE refugees face higher risks, barriers and vulnerability than some other refugee groups. After Bill C-31 (Protecting Canada’s Immigration Act) was passed in 2012, the Immigrant and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) was responsible for determining which SOGIE refugee claims were ‘authentic’ or not, despite little knowledge on the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The IRB recently released guidelines to improve this practice. This policy brief describes the state of SOGIE refugees in Alberta and Canada, challenges the group faces, and the efficacy of the new guidelines for the SOGIE refugee claim process. Sexual orientation and gender identity or expression (SOGIE) refugees face discriminatory and harsh experiences in the refugee claimant and hearing process in Canada. Additionally, SOGIE refugees face higher risks, barriers and vulnerability than some other refugee groups. After Bill C-31 (Protecting Canada’s Immigration Act) was passed in 2012, the Immigrant and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) was responsible for determining which SOGIE refugee claims were ‘authentic’ or not, despite little knowledge on the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The IRB recently released guidelines to improve this practice. This policy brief describes the state of SOGIE refugees in Alberta and Canada, challenges the group faces, and the efficacy of the new guidelines for the SOGIE refugee claim process.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Using PhotoVoice, this research explored the settlement experiences of refugee youth who have exited high school and are in a program designed by an Albertan school board to support their language and academic needs. Newcomer youth encounter profound academic and social stresses as they attempt to create a new identity and sense of belonging in their new home. This project examined what it means for refugee youth to recuperate a place of belonging. By focusing on the notion of belonging rather than barriers to settlement, the findings revealed that at the core of the youth’s efforts, connecting to people, especially in school, in addition to connecting to the natural world, fostered feelings of well-being and belonging. Educational implications include recommendations for schools and teachers supporting newcomer youth. Using PhotoVoice, this research explored the settlement experiences of refugee youth who have exited high school and are in a program designed by an Albertan school board to support their language and academic needs. Newcomer youth encounter profound academic and social stresses as they attempt to create a new identity and sense of belonging in their new home. This project examined what it means for refugee youth to recuperate a place of belonging. By focusing on the notion of belonging rather than barriers to settlement, the findings revealed that at the core of the youth’s efforts, connecting to people, especially in school, in addition to connecting to the natural world, fostered feelings of well-being and belonging. Educational implications include recommendations for schools and teachers supporting newcomer youth.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

About one in five Canadians is a former immigrant. In 2019, Canada welcomed over 340,000 permanent residents, 43,000 of whom came to Alberta.2 Starting in 2021, Canada proposes an ambitious plan to welcome even more permanent residents to Canada, increasing Canada’s population by more than 1 per cent every year for the next three years. Newcomers are an integral part of Canada; they support the local economy in towns and cities across the country by filling employment gaps and contributing their knowledge, skills and experiences to the community. Educated, skilled economic newcomers allow Canada to build its future economic capacity to address a shrinking labour force in the country. To help newcomers integrate in Canada, achieve their full potential and participate in the labour market and in society, the Government of Canada supports newcomers through settlement and integration services. The Settlement Program is characterized by a public-private partnership between the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), provinces and territories, municipalities and many partner organizations. Settlement services are delivered by a network of local organizations and service providers to all newcomers arriving in Canada, removing barriers to their full participation in life and work in Canada and providing them with the tools needed for a smooth and fast integration into their new home – Canada. To evaluate the success of its Settlement Program, the IRCC developed a Performance Measurement Strategy. The Strategy outlines some immediate and intermediate desired outcomes of newcomer settlement and integration, including newcomers’ labour market participation and income, their ability to use the official languages, their uptake of services, participation in the community and the program’s ability to meet and adapt to their needs. To measure the level of integration by newcomers and estimate the direct and measurable outputs of program delivery, the government often uses proxy variables (such as service uptake, naturalization rate, labour market indicators and newcomers’ own sense of belonging). The introduction of Express Entry system in 2015 changed the way Canada selects immigrants. Canada now prioritizes younger, educated individuals with work experience, strong English or French language skills and the ability to integrate in Canada. These immigrants have high human capital (intangible personal attributes such as knowledge, skills, training and experience). These highly-educated skilled economic newcomers prioritize employment integration above all in the hopes of putting their knowledge, education and skills into use upon arrival in Canada. However, once in Canada, many skilled economic immigrants struggle to quickly and effectively integrate economically. This varied economic integration occurs in part because Canada’s Settlement Program is slow to respond to the needs of high skilled economic immigrants. Additional opportunities of on-the job training and improvements to the system of professional accreditation would allow newcomers to contribute their knowledge and skills to the Canadian society while enhancing their skills and easing their integration. To achieve this, settlement services must be made more accessible for all types of newcomers by offering services much sooner in the immigration process and expanding the eligibility criteria for services beyond permanent residents to include temporary residents and naturalized Canadians. To understand newcomer integration from a local perspective, I address settlement and integration services in Calgary, Alberta. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and a cooling off of the natural resources market, the city is experiencing unemployment levels much higher than the national average. Newcomers in Calgary are especially impacted by the recession as they tend to experience higher rates of unemployment and underemployment. With the economy predicted to be sluggish for the next few years, settlement programs are more important than ever, especially as the Government of Canada prepares to welcome over 400,000 of newcomers annually until at least 2023, some of whom will arrive in Calgary. Afterwards, I also give a preliminary overview and evaluation of the Alberta Gateway Project. About one in five Canadians is a former immigrant. In 2019, Canada welcomed over 340,000 permanent residents, 43,000 of whom came to Alberta.2 Starting in 2021, Canada proposes an ambitious plan to welcome even more permanent residents to Canada, increasing Canada’s population by more than 1 per cent every year for the next three years. Newcomers are an integral part of Canada; they support the local economy in towns and cities across the country by filling employment gaps and contributing their knowledge, skills and experiences to the community. Educated, skilled economic newcomers allow Canada to build its future economic capacity to address a shrinking labour force in the country. To help newcomers integrate in Canada, achieve their full potential and participate in the labour market and in society, the Government of Canada supports newcomers through settlement and integration services. The Settlement Program is characterized by a public-private partnership between the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), provinces and territories, municipalities and many partner organizations. Settlement services are delivered by a network of local organizations and service providers to all newcomers arriving in Canada, removing barriers to their full participation in life and work in Canada and providing them with the tools needed for a smooth and fast integration into their new home – Canada. To evaluate the success of its Settlement Program, the IRCC developed a Performance Measurement Strategy. The Strategy outlines some immediate and intermediate desired outcomes of newcomer settlement and integration, including newcomers’ labour market participation and income, their ability to use the official languages, their uptake of services, participation in the community and the program’s ability to meet and adapt to their needs. To measure the level of integration by newcomers and estimate the direct and measurable outputs of program delivery, the government often uses proxy variables (such as service uptake, naturalization rate, labour market indicators and newcomers’ own sense of belonging). The introduction of Express Entry system in 2015 changed the way Canada selects immigrants. Canada now prioritizes younger, educated individuals with work experience, strong English or French language skills and the ability to integrate in Canada. These immigrants have high human capital (intangible personal attributes such as knowledge, skills, training and experience). These highly-educated skilled economic newcomers prioritize employment integration above all in the hopes of putting their knowledge, education and skills into use upon arrival in Canada. However, once in Canada, many skilled economic immigrants struggle to quickly and effectively integrate economically. This varied economic integration occurs in part because Canada’s Settlement Program is slow to respond to the needs of high skilled economic immigrants. Additional opportunities of on-the job training and improvements to the system of professional accreditation would allow newcomers to contribute their knowledge and skills to the Canadian society while enhancing their skills and easing their integration. To achieve this, settlement services must be made more accessible for all types of newcomers by offering services much sooner in the immigration process and expanding the eligibility criteria for services beyond permanent residents to include temporary residents and naturalized Canadians. To understand newcomer integration from a local perspective, I address settlement and integration services in Calgary, Alberta. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and a cooling off of the natural resources market, the city is experiencing unemployment levels much higher than the national average. Newcomers in Calgary are especially impacted by the recession as they tend to experience higher rates of unemployment and underemployment. With the economy predicted to be sluggish for the next few years, settlement programs are more important than ever, especially as the Government of Canada prepares to welcome over 400,000 of newcomers annually until at least 2023, some of whom will arrive in Calgary. Afterwards, I also give a preliminary overview and evaluation of the Alberta Gateway Project.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Little is known about leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) habits of Arab immigrants in Canada. LTPA has been linked to decreased risks for various disease, as well as increased life expectancy. Socioeconomic status has also been recognized as a significant factor affecting health and wellbeing. The socioeconomic determinants of LTPA, and which individual, social, and environmental factors contribute to LTPA participation for adult Arab immigrants in Edmonton, AB were examined. Around 40% of participants were physically active. Factors that were associated with increased LTPA included: higher educational degrees, higher income, occupations with less physical effort, and familiarity with the health benefits of LTPA. Findings from this research have the potential to design and implement targeted LTPA recommendations and interventions for Arab immigrants. Little is known about leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) habits of Arab immigrants in Canada. LTPA has been linked to decreased risks for various disease, as well as increased life expectancy. Socioeconomic status has also been recognized as a significant factor affecting health and wellbeing. The socioeconomic determinants of LTPA, and which individual, social, and environmental factors contribute to LTPA participation for adult Arab immigrants in Edmonton, AB were examined. Around 40% of participants were physically active. Factors that were associated with increased LTPA included: higher educational degrees, higher income, occupations with less physical effort, and familiarity with the health benefits of LTPA. Findings from this research have the potential to design and implement targeted LTPA recommendations and interventions for Arab immigrants.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

ECELC sought to consult with newcomer communities in Edmonton, specifically in regard to planning a centralized system of early learning and care that honours the realities of marginalized families and works to mitigate and remove institutional and/or systemic disadvantage for these families. The information from these consultations will be used to ensure ECELC’s activities take into account the lived experiences of newcomer families and that it considers an inclusion/equity lens in its work as it moves forward. Multicultural Family Resource Society (MFRS), one of the ECELC members, was approached to conduct this work on behalf of the Council through MFRS Coaching, Advisory, and Research Services. The consultations involved meeting with key groups of people to learn about what is already known about this topic and to identify who some of the ‘knowledge keepers’ are on this topic. MFRS consulted with Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative; Jasper Place Child and Family Resource Centre; Intercultural Child and Family Centre; University of Alberta, Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families (CUP); MacEwan University, Human Services and Early Learning and Care; and Muslim Community of Edmonton (MCE) Child Care Centre to assess what work has already been done recently on the topic of newcomer families and early learning and care and to identify existing groups of practitioners and community members that would be good candidates for further consultation. The consultations also sought to identify facilitators for future conversations as community consultation often generates the richest data when the facilitators are known to participants and this would be an important aspect to future ECELC work. ECELC sought to consult with newcomer communities in Edmonton, specifically in regard to planning a centralized system of early learning and care that honours the realities of marginalized families and works to mitigate and remove institutional and/or systemic disadvantage for these families. The information from these consultations will be used to ensure ECELC’s activities take into account the lived experiences of newcomer families and that it considers an inclusion/equity lens in its work as it moves forward. Multicultural Family Resource Society (MFRS), one of the ECELC members, was approached to conduct this work on behalf of the Council through MFRS Coaching, Advisory, and Research Services. The consultations involved meeting with key groups of people to learn about what is already known about this topic and to identify who some of the ‘knowledge keepers’ are on this topic. MFRS consulted with Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative; Jasper Place Child and Family Resource Centre; Intercultural Child and Family Centre; University of Alberta, Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families (CUP); MacEwan University, Human Services and Early Learning and Care; and Muslim Community of Edmonton (MCE) Child Care Centre to assess what work has already been done recently on the topic of newcomer families and early learning and care and to identify existing groups of practitioners and community members that would be good candidates for further consultation. The consultations also sought to identify facilitators for future conversations as community consultation often generates the richest data when the facilitators are known to participants and this would be an important aspect to future ECELC work.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly